Stuttgart

The World Cup arrives in Stuttgart on 13 June when France take on Switzerland and it's not the first "Stuttgart first" for the Swiss.

They were the first to play in an international on German soil following the Second World War in 1950 and 40 years later the city hosted the first international since reunification versus Germany and Switzerland. 

Hopefully England will be playing at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, too, 18-years on from their last visit to Stuttgart for Euro '88. The winners of Group B meet the Runner-Up from Group A here on 25 June.

The stadium isn't a brand new one, but has been heavily renovated ahead of the World Cup. The original Neckar-Stadion was built in 1933 with a new stand opening in 1951 and extensions to the ends in 1956 and the main stand in 1973.

With Germany 2006 on the horizon, a new seating tier was built opposite the main stand, electronic access controls installed and two new video screens mounted, at 115 square metres viewable area and 11 tonnes apiece, the biggest of their kind in Europe.

A highlight of the new ground is the textile roof covering, with a supporting structure following the principle of a horizontal hub and spoke system, its fine and intricate lattice somehow reminiscent of the nearby acres of vines.

Games in Stuttgart